Loud-speaker telephone set



Dec. 23, 1947. T, c, lEBE 2,433,295

LOUD-SPEAKER TELEPHONE SET Filed Nov. 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN TOR. THEODORE 0. E

ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1947. T. c. R.IEIBE LOUD- SPEAKER TELEPHONE SET Filed Nov. 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THEODORE G. RI E'BE ATTORNEY I LOUD-SPEAKER TELEPHONE SET Filed Nov. 10, 1944 4 SheetS-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

THEODORE G. RIEBE ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1947. v T. c. RIEBE 2,433,295

LOUD-SPEAKER TELEPHONE SET Filed Nov. 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1947 2,433,295 LOUD-SPEAKER TELEPHONE SET Theodore C. Riebe, Chica tomatic Electric Labor go, 111., assignor to Auatories, Inc., Chicago, 111.,

a corporation of Delaware Application November 10, 1944, Serial No. 562,795 Claims. (Cl. 179-100) The present invention relates in general to desk telephone sets in which all of the talking and use of fleXible shafting for coupling a switch unit signalling instrumentalities are included in a single housing, and more particularly to a combination desk set wherein an ordinary cradle handset cation station equipment.

The telephone set of this invention was designed especially for use on shipboard where it is subject to rough usage, vibrations and shocks. Means are provided in the base for securely fastening the set to the desk or table upon which it is to be proportioned to surrounding objects and to the desk or table upon which it is mounted.

A feature of the invention resides in the fact that interfering with apparatus units.

An additional feature of the invention is directed to the mounting of the cradle switch spring assembly on a bracket of the front panel of the set, and the novel means for operating these switch springs.

A further feature of the invention concerns brackets removably installed on the chassis for mounting various apparatus units in a new and novel manner. The removal of these mounting brackets with the associated units mounted thereon provides a simple means for obtaining access to parts mounted underneath or adjacent to the brackets.

Another feature of the invention relates to the mounted in the interior of the set with its associated operating handle on the front panel. By this means the switch unit is offset with respect to the operating handle and, consequently, the

switch unit may be mounted partly behind another unit, thereby making it possible to use a shorter length and height of front panel than would be required if the shafts of the two units were in alignment.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description together with the accompanying drawings which show a proposed embodiment by way of example.

The invention is disclosed in 4 sheets of drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. Fig. 1 is a front view, in elevation, of the assembled set showing the equipment units mounted on the front panel and the telephone handset on the top of the cover.

Fig. 2 is a top view, in elevation, of the assembled set with the cover removed and certain equipment units omitted, the omissions making it possible to show other units which would otherwise be hidden. The units omitted from Fig. 2 are a telephone ringer, a loudspeaker unit and a reproducer horn, the mounting arrangement of these three units being shown in Fig, 3.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the assembled set, partly in section taken along cradle cups omitted. In this view, the offset shaft alignment of handle 31 and switch 5| is clearly shown. The structural details of lamp signals 3| and connecting keys 32 inside the set are also revealed in this figure.

Fig. 4 is a side view, in elevation, of the chassis proper showing the relationships of the various members constituting the chassis.

Fig. 5 is a top view, in elevation, of the removable cover showing the location of the telephone handset cradle cups and the cradle plunger on the cover.

Fig. 6 is, a view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 3 to supplement the view of switch 5| shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a view of the handset cradle plunger and its mounting on the cover of the set.

Fig. 8 is a top view, in elevation, of the mounting of a telephone ringer, a loudspeaker and a twin-tunnel reproducer horn, and illustrates in particular the Y-shape of the conducting tunnels of the reproducer horn.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the chassis of the set consists essentially of a front panel I,

a side flanges 2' and 3, rear flange 4 and base plate 5. These parts are fastened together by riveting or welding to form a basic chassis, front panel 1 extending considerably above side flanges 2 and 3 (Fig. 4:). To this basic chassis are assembled vertical sub-panels l, 8 and 9 and vertical members H) for the purpose of providing additional facilities for the mounting of telephone instrumentalities. Fig. 4 shows the locations of subpanels I, 8 and 9 with relationship to front panel I. The height of vertical members H) is also indicated in this figure.

Side rails 6 are fastened to side flanges 2 and 3 (Fig. 2), and tapped holes 12 in rails. 6' (Fig; 41) provide means for fastening the side panels of the cover to the sides of the chassis. Holes l3 (Fig. 2) provide facilities for fastening the chassis to the desk or table upon which it is to be, located, thus securing it in position. Horizontal studs 1 l (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) provide means for the mounting of a bracket to which an automatic telephone dial is fastened, in the manner to be described later.

The removable cover for enclosing the chassis has no front panel and no bottom, and is designed to fit snugly against the rear of front panel I of the chassis. A flange 68 (Fig. 3) attached by riveting or welding to the under side of the cover at the front edge is fitted with a series of tapped holes. These tapped holes provide means for securing the cover to front panel I with screws 14 (Fig. 1). Holes along the bottom edges of the side and rear panels of the cover provide means for securing the cover to the side and rear rails of the chassis with screws engaging corresponding tapped holes 12 in the side and rear rails. Fig. 4 shows the tapped holes i2 in the right hand side rail 6.

Cradle cups l and I6 (Figs. 1 and 5) provide means for mounting telephone handset 2i on the top of the cover in such a position as to cause the movement of plunger H to its lowest limit. The function of plunger I! will be explained later. Facilities are provided on cups l5 and 16 for automatically retaining the handset in the cups. The holding of the handset is accomplished in the following manner:

Cup I5 is fitted with two clips I9 rigidly attached to the outer surface of cup I5 and extending upwardly beyond the top rim of cup l5, and then turning inwardly and downwardly. Cup 16 is fitted. with a spring clip 20, the lower end; of which is fastened to the inner surface of cup Hi. The upper end of spring clip 20. extends. above the top rim of cup l6 and is formed into a loop extending inwardly. Spring clip 20 is normally tensioned away from the rim of cup l6, and is limited in its inward movement by a stop bracket (not shown) which permits spring clip 20, to. rest at a certain distance from the rim of cup 16,.

The cord end of handset 2| is. placed in-- cup. is, the downward sloping angle of cup causing the handset to seat against the rim of cup. 15. In this position, clips 19 extend over. the; back edge of the handset (Fig. 1). The other end of the handset is thenv pressed, down into. cup i6, and spring clip 20 is forced outwardly to clear the outer edge of the handset. When the handset is seated in cup I6, spring clip 20 snapsback over the sloping surface of the handset (Fig. 1) and thusautomatically holds the handset in position.

Handset 2| may be removed from the cover by lifting it upwardly and thus forcing. spring lip 28 outwardly to clear the free end of the handset,

the upward movement of the handset being pivoted under clips l9 until the free end of the handset passes above spring clip 20.

Strip 24 (Fig. 5) is an ornamental band riveted to the outer surface of the cover at the front edge for purely decorative purposes. Cradle cups l5 and iii are each lined with a mat 25 (Fig. 5) for cushioning handset 21. The handset is connected to terminals 26 (Fig. 2) in the interior of the set by means of flexible cord 22 passing through grommet 2'! (Fig. 2), clip 23 anchoring cord 22 to the outside of the set. A cushioning pad 28 (Figs. 1 and 3) is attached to the base of the set.

The equipment mounted on front panel I of the set consists of the following items:

At the upper center, an automatic telephone dial 2.9 is located between two grilles 30, the grilles being associated with a twin-tunnel reproducer horn mounted inside the set.

In the; central portion of front panel I are located a row of lamp signals 3| and a row of associated connecting keys 32, the lamps and keys being separated by a designation strip holder 33-. The keys shown are of the push type but any of the well-known types of switch keys may be used.

In the lower portion of front panel I are mounted four operating handles 34, 35, 36 and 31. controlling a like number of rotatable, switches located inside the set.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a terminal block 38 is attached to the top surface of sub-panel 8 at the rear of the chassis for terminating all wires requiring connections outside the set. A grommet 39, through the rear of the chassis to the left of terminal block 38 provides a cable entrance for, connecting wires, a slot (not shown) in the rear panel of the cover permitting the cover tov be removed and replaced without disturbing such cabling. Directly underneath the terminal block a, transformer 40 is located, and a. relay 41 is mounted to the right of the transformer. Another relay 42 is also mounted on sub-panel 8, to the extreme left. A condenser 43 is mounted partly underneath relay 42 to the left. A second condenser 44 mounted on sub-panel I is, located to the front of condenser 43.

A resistor and resistance coil bracket assembly 45 is mounted across the tops of sub-panels 8 and 9, at the right hand side of the set by means of, screws 4.6, spacers 41 and clamping strips 48 (Fig. 3). The demountable feature of bracket assembly 45. provides means for accessing an induction coil 49, a condenser 50 and a rotatable switch 51 mounted directly underneath bracket assembly 45 (Fig. 3). In Fig. 2, assembly 45 is shown partly cut away to reveal the location of induction coil 49.

At the left hand side of the set a rotatable switch 52 (Fig. 2) is mounted on sub-panel 9 underneath terminals 26 and coupled to operating handle 34. (Fig. 1) by means of extension shaft. 53. A second switch 54 mounted on subpanel 9 (Fig. 2) is coupled to operating handle 35 (Fig. 1.) by means of extension shaft 55.

A third switch 5| mounted on sub-panel 9 underneath resistor and resistance coil bracket assembly 45 (Fig. 3) is coupled to operating handle 3]. (Fig. 1) by means of flexible shaft 56. Flexible shafting is used in this instance because the large diameter of switch 5| (see Fig. 6 which is a view along the line B-B in Fig. 3) prevents the mounting of switch 5| inhorizontal and vertical shaft alignments with operating handle 31 unless front panel I is increased in length and height. A fourth switch (not shown) is mounted on the back of front panel I and directly coupled to operating handle 36 (Fig. 1).

A bracket 51 (Figs. 2 and 3) is attached to studs .II by means of screws 58, and is provided for mounting dial 29 and cradle contact spring assembly 59. Dial 29 is attached to the front face of bracket 51 by means of screws 60, the dial being removed and replaced through front panel I. Cradle spring assembly 59 is attached to the horizontal member of bracket 51 by means of screws BI, and may be removed and replaced as a unit because the operating spring of the assembly is not attached to the lower end of cradle plunger IT.

The normal tension of spring assembly 59 forces plunger ill to its upper limit When handset 2| is lifted from cradle cups I5 and IS, the contacts of the assembly switching the telephone circuits accordingly. The weight of handset 2| overcomes the normal tension of spring assembly 59 when the handset is placed in the cradle cups and. consequently, forces plunger I! to its lower limit, thereby reversing the circuit switching action of spring assembly 59.

A unique feature of plunger I! is that it is assembled to the cover and-has no mechanical attachment to spring assembly -59. The cover may, therefore, be removed and replaced without disconnecting plunger l1. Housing I8 limits the up and down travel of plunger I l as shown in Fig. 7, retaining the plunger within the housing in an obvious manner that requires no detail explana tion.

Vertical members H] (Fig. 2) are, provided for the mounting of a removable bracket and equipment assembly at a horizontal level slightly above the top edges of side flanges 2 and 3. The demountable feature of the bracket assembly permits the utilization of space underneath and adjacent to the bracket assembly for the mounting of apparatus units in locations which would otherwise be inaccessible.

The mounting arrangement of the removable bracket assembly mentioned in the preceding paragraph and the units comprising the assembly are shown in Figs. 3 and 8. The units consist of a bracket a2, a telephone ringer 63, a loudspeaker E i and a reproducer horn 65. This bracket assembly is removable and replaceable as a complete unit and, thereby, access to transformer id, relay il, switch 54 and other adjacent units located in the lower part of the chassis is provided without requiring additional space. The top view in Fig. 2 shows the accessibility to the lower mounted units when the bracket assembly is removed from the chassis.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, resistor and resistance coil assembly 45 is shown partly cut away to reveal a side view, in elevation, of the mounting of the ringer, loudspeaker and reproducer horn assembly. A simple leveling device 66 is used in connection with screws El for anchoring the bracket assembly to the top surface of subpanel 9.

The reproducer horn 65 is fitted with twin conducting tunnels which are flared out horizontally in Y-fashion as shown in Fig. 8 to cause the mouths of the tunnels to line up with the respective grilles as mounted on front panel I.

It should be understood that while one embodiment of the invention is disclosed and described in the preceding specification, the invention is not limited to the particular form or application 61 shown, but is entitled to the equivalents thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A unitary chassis for mounting instrumentalities of the type used in telephone communication sets, said chassis including a removably mounted bracket, said bracket providing means for mounting a telephone ringer, a loudspeaker unit and a reproducer horn as one assembly, the demountable feature of said bracket permitting the utilization of space normally inaccessible underneath and adjacent to said bracket for the mounting of other telephone instrumentalities.

2. In combination, a telephone set having a base, a vertically disposed front panel fastened to said base, two separate grilles mounted on said panel, each said grille extending inwardly from an edge of said panel towards the vertical axis of said panel, a bracket removably mounted on said base, and a loudspeaker unit and a reproducer horn mounted on opposite sides of a vertical member of said bracket, said horn having twin conducting tunnels extending outwardly from said bracket to said grilles on said panel, the outer end of each said tunnels fitting closely against one of said grilles but having no attachment thereto, the assembly of said bracket, said loudspeaker and said horn being removable from said base as a unit without dismounting said loudspeaker or said horn.

3. In combination, a telephone set having a base, a vertically disposed front panel attached to said base, two grilles mounted on said panel, each said grille extending inwardly from an edge of said panel towards the vertical center of said panel, a bracket removably mounted on said base, a loudspeaker and a reproducer horn mounted on a vertical member of said bracket, said horn having two conducting tunnels extending outwardly from said bracket to said grilles, the outer end of each said tunnels fitting closely against one of said grilles but not attached thereto, a cover for enclosing said base, and means for mounting a telephone handset on said cover.

4. In a telephone set, a base having a front panel, two grilles mounted on said panel, each said grille extending inwardly from an edge of said panel towards the vertical center of said panel, an automatic telephone dial mounted on said panel between said grilles, a bracket removably mounted on said base, a loudspeaker and a against one of said grilles but not attached thereto, and a removably mounted cover for enclosing said base and the rear of said panel.

5. In a telephone set having a removable cover, a base, a front panel, a grille mounted on said panel, a bracket removably mounted on said base, a loudspeaker and a reproducer horn mounted on said bracket, said horn having a conducting tunnel extending to said grille, a contact spring switching mechanism within said set, a plunger projecting through said cover in alignment with said switching mechanism and removable with said cover, and means for cradling a telephone handset on said cover in mechanical contact with switching mechanism.

6. In combination, a mounting surface having an opening for clearing the periphery of an automatic telephone dial, a bracket comprising two members atan'angle to each other, one of said members mounted on one side of said mounting surface for bridging said opening, an automatic telephone dial removably mounted on said one member and protruding through said surface, said-'- dial being removable through said. opening, anda contact spring switching assembly remov-- ably mounted on the other member of said bracket.

7 1A telephone set including a base having a front panel, an opening in said panel adjacent to the top edge of said panel for clearing the periphery of an automatic telephone dial, a bracket comprising two members at an angle to each other, said bracket so mounted on the rear of. said panel that one of said members bridges said opening and said other member extends inwardly from said panel, an automatic telephone dial removably mounted on said one member and protruding through said opening, a contact spring switching mechanism removably mounted on said other member, a cover for enclosing said base and the rear of said panel, means for cradling a telephone handset on the top of said cover, and means for causing the operation of said switching mechanism when said handset is placed in said cradle.

8; In combination, a desk telephone base, a vertically disposed front panel attached to said base, a removably mounted unitary cover comprising side, rear and top panels but having no iront'. panel, said cover fitting snugly against said first front panel and extending down over said base for completely enclosing said base, and projections. extending upwardly on said supporting a telephone handset.

9.1 In a telephone set having a base and a removable cover, two vertically disposed panels attached to said base substantially parallel to each other, one of said panels constituting a front panel with respect to said base and said cover, a grille and a plurality of handles mounted on said front panel, a plurality of switches equal in number to said handles mounted on said other panel, a shaft connecting each said handle with one'of said switches for permitting said switches to be controlled by said handles, a bracket removably mounted above said other panel and so located with respect to said other panel as to cover said switches, a loudspeaker unit and a reproducer horn mounted on said bracket to form cover for a iii) an assembly comprising said bracket, said loudspeaker unit and said horn, said horn having a conducting tunnel extending to said grille but not attached thereto, access to said switches for maintenance purposes being obtained when said cover and said bracket assembly are successively removed.

10. In a telephone set having a base and a removable cover, two vertically disposed panels attached to said base substantially parallel to each other, one of said panels constituting a front panel with respect to said base and said cover, two grilles mounted on said front panel, an automatic telephone dial mounted on said front panel between said grilles, a plurality of handles mounted on said front panel below said grilles and said dial, a plurality of switches equal in number to said handles and mounted on said other panel, a shaft connecting each said handle with one of said switches for permitting said switches to be controlled by said handles, a bracket removably mounted above said other panel and located with respect to said other panel as to cover said switches, a telephone ringer, a loudspeaker unit, and a reproducer horn mounted on said bracket to form an assembly comprising said bracket, said ringer, said loudspeaker unit and said horn, said horn having two conducting tunnels extending to said grilles but not attached thereto, the successive removal of said cover and said bracket assembly providing access to said switches for maintenance purposes.

THEODORE C. RIEBE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,634,771 Bascom et a1 Dec. 13, 1944 2,008,287 Lum July 16, 1935 2,193,536 Murdoch et al Mar. 12, 1940 1,568,589 Eddington Jan. 5, 1926 2,319,409 Latimer May 8, 1943 2,101,009 Mitchell Nov. 30, 1937 2,017,358 Taylor Oct. 15, 1935 2,214,992 Chevassus Sept. 17, 1940 1,917,724 Kvaal July 11, 1933 2,226,734 McLarn Dec. 31, 1940 

